WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT PETS AND PROPERTY?

Okay, so before I kick off this article, I have a confession to make. I’m not a journalist and therefore am unapologetically biased when it comes to this subject. I do however have plenty of professional experience and insight on the subject and my own personal pet journey. My stance is simple. More often than not, pets are one of the biggest deciding factors when purchasing a residential property. This means that estates and sectional title developments that limit the number or species of pets, or prohibit them altogether, generally reduce their buyer pool significantly and in certain markets can compromise property values. Right, so now that I’ve made my position clear, let me provide some insight.

There is a mountain of evidence to back up the theory that pets, specifically dogs and cats, provide their pet parents with various mental and physical benefits, including a sense of belonging, connection and contentment. It’s been found that sitting quietly and stroking your pet’s coat can trigger the release of oxytocin, the so-called ‘love hormone’. To be honest, this is a relief to me as I often question whether my love for our family dogs is at all normal or healthy.

The bottom line is that despite the chaos and expense they often bring to our lives, pets are an integral part of family life and are often unwitting decision-makers in the home-buying process. Moreover, in a market such as the Midlands, the buyer profile clearly points to young families and retirees, many of whom enjoy the companionship of a family pet.

We work across a number of premier lifestyle estates and markets and have witnessed first-hand the impact www.localrealestate.co.za pets have on property values and decision-making. I’ve also sat on various homeowners associations and debated pet policies that in many cases are arbitrarily constituted and cut and pasted from a neighbouring estate without so much as a second thought or discussion. I’ve heard all the arguments, for and against, but ultimately I’m a firm believer in taking a more reasonable, common-sense approach. Why should we restrict ownership to two dogs and not three? Why only dogs and no cats? Why only dogs under 20 kilograms? (That would rule out my robust chocolate labrador by the way).

An argument by some eco and wildlife estates in KZN, including our area, is that dogs shouldn’t be allowed due to the impact on wild game, whereas some of the top residential wildlife estates in Hoedspruit, for example (including the one that Tom Cruise lived in for a few months), allow dogs, and simply ensure some basic rules and behaviours are enforced. This has opened up their product to a far wider buyer pool and created a well-balanced resident profile.

Whilst rules and restrictions, not just about pets, have their place in order to manage and maintain a degree of consistency and harmony in gated estates or complexes, they can also lead to management headaches, unnecessary tensions and restrictive buyer pools. With so many other considerations and areas to concern oneself with, I think we should give the family pet a break and become a bit more understanding of their value and impact on our lives.

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